SLPS SUPERINTENDENT EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT IN STATE BOARD’S SPONSORSHIP OF CHARTER SCHOOL

St. Louis – Dr. Diana Bourisaw, superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools, today issued the following statement regarding today’s decision of the State Board of Education to sponsor a MoCAN charter school in St. Louis:

“I am very disappointed in the decision of the State Board of Education to sponsor a charter school in St. Louis. As I’ve shared with the State Board, we have several initiatives aimed at dropouts and at-risk youth that we are launching, or expanding, next school year. For example, three new Big Picture alternative schools, an expansion of our contract with a well-known dropout recovery program, and expansion of our contract with a proven credit retrieval program for dropouts.

“We have already recognized the need for programs aimed at reducing the dropout rate in the St. Louis Public Schools, and we have responded.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Attached is a letter sent to the State Board of Education on May 11 expressing concern about the MoCAN proposal.